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Mayor’s Message continued

allies, allowing us to operate a COVID-19 vaccination site on to Federal Highway’s Kinney Tunnel under the New River. We
the campus at the height of the pandemic. expect the park to be finished by the end of May. We continue
to work with FDOT on plans to create an iconic sculpture
Still, there are a few final details to iron out. We are prepared
to work as partners in this undertaking. garden in the park.
As part of the recent Las Olas Mobility Study, the city
First, there are issues of some outstanding expenses —
whether the city or the team agreed to cover the cost of committed to adding crosswalks in the residential area of Las
demolishing the old stadiums that were on the property and Olas Isles. Design work has been completed and we shortly
whether the city or team agreed to pay for the necessary will be seeking bids for the work. The crosswalks will be mid-
building permits. The team and city have now agreed to block between South Gordon Road and Bontona Avenue and
mediation. Former Mayor Jack Seiler has agreed to serve as mid-block between Fiesta Way and Nurmi Drive.
mediator and it is our hope we can resolve these questions in The city also committed to installing dual left turn lanes for
the next 60 days. traffic going from Southeast 15th Avenue to Las Olas. Design

The second outstanding matter is Inter Miami’s pledge to create work has also been completed on this and we are now
a public park on part of the site. The City Commission reached procuring a contractor. We hope this will help relieve some of
consensus at our first meeting in March to design and price out the congestion experienced heading toward the barrier island
the concept created in a series of meetings between city officials, from downtown.
nearby neighborhoods and our park consultants. This will include The city is also in process of addressing the impact of rising
athletic fields for public use, a dog park, playground and walking sea levels on the Las Olas area with plans to replace five
trails. Inter Miami will pay for items specifically listed in our seawalls. Work on the Hendricks Isle seawall was completed
agreement with them, while the city will pay for any other items in late March, while construction will start this spring on
that we want such as a community center. seawalls on Lido Drive, San Marco Drive and Coral Way as
well as one in Merle Fogg Park.
Las Olas Boulevard is also the center of some exciting
developments -- both in the shopping district as well as the Yours,
residential areas. The construction of Tunnel Top Park is Dean Trantalis
nearing completion. The Florida Department of Transportation
has been constructing the park as part of its renovation work

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